Labour Exploitation of Migrant Workers: Reflection on the Empirical Research of Lithuanian Migrants
Keywords:
labour exploitation, forced labour, trafficking for forced labour, Lithuanian migrant workers, European Union
Abstract
Based on empirical sociological research of Lithuanian migrant workers, this article analyses the problem of labour exploitation of Lithuanian nationals working in other countries of the European Union (EU). The article investigates the legal regulations of labour exploitation, forced labour, and trafficking for forced labour. It looks at the extent of labour exploitation of Lithuanian nationals abroad, and analyses actual negative experiences of labour exploitation. The article argues that migration is a key factor contributing to labour exploitation. In this article, labour exploitation is understood as a continuum ranging from less severe to more severe forms of exploitation. According to the data of the research, the common practices of labour exploitation of Lithuanian migrant workers abroad most often include unsevere forms of labour exploitation: incomplete payment of agreed wages; probational work, for which the salary is not paid or is very small; lack of employment contract; lack of overtime pay; etc. The extreme cases of severe exploitation are rare, and include physical and psychological coercion; fraud; depth bondage; restriction of movement; no payment at all; humiliating and unhuman work and living conditions; social isolation; and lack of food and sleep.
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21. http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/fight_against_ trafficking_in_ human_beings/ jl0058_en.htm (accessed on 2015-05-21).
22. International Organisation for Migration - Lithuania, Migration in Numbers – http://123.emn.lt/en/general-trends/migration-10-years-overview [accessed on 2015-10-02].
23. Eurostat. Statistical working papers. Trafficking in Human Beings. – 2015. – 142p. – https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/eurostat_report_on_trafficking_in_human_beings_-_2015_edition.pdf [accessed on 2015-11-05].
24. Janušauskienė, D. “Lithuanian Migrants as Victims of Human Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation Abroad” in Ollus, Natalia, Jokinen, Anniina and Joutsen, Matti (eds.) Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking. Report Series No.75. – Helsinki: HEUNI. – 2013. – p.305-359.
2. Eurostat http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics [accessed on 2015-11-02].
3. Eurostat http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics [accessed on 2015-11-02].
4. Eurostat http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3433488/5584984/KS-SF-12-031-EN.PDF/be48f08f-41c1-4748-a8a5-5d92ebe848f2 [accessed on 2015-11-04].
5. Іnternational Labour Organization (ILO). Operational Indicators of Trafficking in Human Beings. Results from a Delphi Survey Implemented by the ILO and the European Commission. – September, 2009. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@declaration/documents/publication/wcms_105023.pdf [accessed on 2015-10-10].
6. International Labour Office (ILO), Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour (SAP-FL)). ILO Global Estimate of Forced Labour. Results and Methodology. – 2012. – Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---declaration/documents/publication/wcms_182004.pdf [accessed on 2015-10-28].
7. The Globalization of Crime. A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. – 2010. – Available at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/dataandanalysis/tocta/TOCTA_Report_2010_low_res.pdf [accessed 2015-10-15].
8. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Annual Report. Severe labour exploitation: workers moving within or into the European Union – States’ obligations and victims’ rights. – 2015. . – Available at : http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2015/severe-labour-exploitation-workers-moving-within-or-european-union [accessed on 2015-11-05].
9. Skrivánková K. Trafficking for forced labour: UK country report / Skrivánková K. – London: ASI. – 2006. – 47p. – Available at : http://www.kalayaan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Trafficking-Report.pdf [accessed on 2015-10-01].
10. Andrees B. Forced Labour and Trafficking in Europe: How people are trapped in, live through and come out / Andrees B. : Working Paper. Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour. – Geneva: ILO. – 2008. – 60p. . – Available at : http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@declaration/documents/publication/wcms_090548.pdf [accessed on 2015-10-08].
11. Geddes A. The Scope of Forced Labour in the UK: Final Report / Geddes A., Craig G. and Scott, S. – York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. – 2013.
12. Clark N. Detecting and Tackling Forced Labour in Europe / Clark N. – York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. – 2013. – 75p. – Available at: file:///C:/Users/Diana/Downloads/forced-labour-europe-full%20(1).pdf [accessed on 2015-10-15].
13. Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking Report Series / [Ollus N., Jokinen A. and Joutsen M. (eds.)]. – No.75. – Helsinki: HEUNI. – 2013. – 363p.
14. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Annual Report 2015. Severe labour exploitation: workers moving within or into the European Union – States’ obligations and victims’ rights. – 2015. – Available at: http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2015/severe-labour-exploitation-workers-moving-within-or-european-union [accessed on 2015-11-05].
15. ILO Convention No. 29: Convention Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (1930) in Refugee Protection and Human Trafficking Selected Legal Reference Materials. First Edition. – Protection Policy and Legal Advice Section (PPLAS), Division of International Protection Services (DIPS), UNHCR. – December 2008. Available at : http://www.unhcr.org/4986fd6b2.html [accessed on 2015-09-20].
16. Jokinen, A. and Ollus, N. “Recruitment, Exploitation of Migrant Workers and Labour Trafficking In Finland, Sweden, Estonia And Lithuania: Introduction and Research Findings” in Ollus, Natalia, Jokinen, Anniina and Joutsen, Matti (eds.) Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking. Report Series No.75. – Helsinki: HEUNI. – 2013. – p. 9-30.
17. “ILO Convention No. 29: Convention Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (1930)” in Refugee Protection and Human Trafficking Selected Legal Reference Materials. First Edition, Protection Policy and Legal Advice Section (PPLAS), Division of International Protection Services (DIPS), UNHCR. – 1 December 2008. – Available at : http://www.unhcr.org/4986fd6b2.html [accessed on 2015-05-20].
18. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. - Article 3 – Available at : http://www.uncjin.org/Documents/Conventions/dcatoc/final_documents_2/convention_%20traff_eng.pdf [accessed on 2015-05-15].
19. Jokinen, A. and Ollus, N. “Recruitment, Exploitation of Migrant Workers and Labour Trafficking In Finland, Sweden, Estonia And Lithuania: Introduction and Research Findings” in Ollus, Natalia, Jokinen, Anniina and Joutsen, Matti (eds.) Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking. Report Series No.75. – Helsinki: HEUNI. – 2013. – p. 9-30.
20. Jokinen, A. and Ollus, N. “Recruitment, Exploitation of Migrant Workers and Labour Trafficking In Finland, Sweden, Estonia And Lithuania: Introduction and Research Findings” in Ollus, Natalia, Jokinen, Anniina and Joutsen, Matti (eds.) Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking. Report Series No.75. – Helsinki: HEUNI. – 2013. – p. 9-30.
21. http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/fight_against_ trafficking_in_ human_beings/ jl0058_en.htm (accessed on 2015-05-21).
22. International Organisation for Migration - Lithuania, Migration in Numbers – http://123.emn.lt/en/general-trends/migration-10-years-overview [accessed on 2015-10-02].
23. Eurostat. Statistical working papers. Trafficking in Human Beings. – 2015. – 142p. – https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/eurostat_report_on_trafficking_in_human_beings_-_2015_edition.pdf [accessed on 2015-11-05].
24. Janušauskienė, D. “Lithuanian Migrants as Victims of Human Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation Abroad” in Ollus, Natalia, Jokinen, Anniina and Joutsen, Matti (eds.) Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking. Report Series No.75. – Helsinki: HEUNI. – 2013. – p.305-359.
Published
2016-10-24
How to Cite
Janušauskienė, D. (2016). Labour Exploitation of Migrant Workers: Reflection on the Empirical Research of Lithuanian Migrants. Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series "Sociological Studies of Contemporary Society: Methodology, Theory, methods", 36, 82-91. Retrieved from https://periodicals.karazin.ua/ssms/article/view/6541
Issue
Section
Empirical Researches of Modern Society
